Flip Flop Style Sandals with Interchangeable/Removable Decorative Strand or Jewelry Adorned Uppers

ABSTRACT

A flip-flop style sandal with interchangeable decorative strand or jewelry-adorned uppers comprises a sole with attached foot retaining strap. A set of a plurality of fastening faces is provided, which include an upper fastener receiver side, i.e., male snap fastener, which is coupled with the top face of the foot-retaining strap, extending the upper receiver side. A decorative strand accessory is provided. The decorative strand is made of a string ornamented or decorated between a plurality of fastening faces. Individual fastening faces on the strand have an upper flat side and a lower fastener receiver side, i.e., female snap fastener. The lower fastener receiver side on the decorative strand is adapted to releasably couple with the upper fastener receiver side of the fastener faces connected to the foot-retaining strap. The decorative strand accessory fastener faces, and the fastener faces connected with the foot-retaining strap are coextensive in spacing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1—Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the field of footwear and more particularly to footwear that can be modified by the wearer.

2—Description of Prior Art

The use of footwear of known designs and configurations is known in the prior art. More specifically, footwear of known designs and configurations previously devised and utilized for the purpose of selectively changing the appearance of apparel through conventional methods and apparatuses are known to consist basically of familiar, expected, and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which has been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.

By way of example U.S. Pat. No. 7,200,959 to Spann discloses a modifiable footwear invention. U.S. Pat. No. 5,496,612 to Ransbottom discloses an ornamental attachment for a shoe. U.S. Pat. No. 3,032,896 discloses a convertible shoe vamp. U.S. Pat. No. 3,011,281 to King discloses a shoe decorative device. U.S. Pat. No. 1,555,418 to Kennedy discloses an adjustable decoration for shoes. Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 6,769,204 to Phillips discloses an interchangeable sandal surface.

While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe a decorative strand accessory that allows providing a plurality of interchangeable ornamented strings by a minimal plurality of fastening faces such as spaced snaps for the foot retaining straps of sandals.

It is common knowledge that individuals generally desire different colors, shades and shapes of shoes to match the rest of the clothing they wear. In particular, shoes are used to match accessories such as a purse, handbag, belt, hat, necklace or bracelet. An individual may therefore believe that in order to be fashionable they must have many shoes to accommodate a variety of accessories for a variety of occasions—formal as well as casual. While some shoes may easily match a purse or belt, few allow an ability to match additional accessories such as earrings, bracelets, necklaces, etc.

Having such a variety and collection of footwear is expensive. Investing in footwear for special occasions or requirements is largely expensive and wasteful. Brides invest in a single pair of shoes that can be worn only once. School organizations and teams; dance, gymnastic, and other competitive teams invest in multiple pairs of easily removable footwear types that coordinate with expansive wardrobe and competition attire. Substantial investments are made in shoes to simply match every-day attire.

Additionally, having numerous footwear options is also bulky and requires a great deal of storage space. Airports now have restrictions on the pieces of luggage and the weight of that luggage, making it difficult and unaffordable to pack multiple pairs of shoes that serve the purpose of matching attire. Children grow quickly out of footwear and all components of normal footwear are no longer useable when a child no longer fits into the shoe.

Respectively, the decorative shoe with attached ornamental strand according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of providing a plurality of interchangeable ornamental decorations constructed of wood, pearls, gemstones, metal, glass, resins or plastics rather than a fabricated decoration of cloth, ribbon or other woven materials. This allows the wearer to achieve a casual look or more formal appearance than a strap made from woven material.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of footwear of known designs and configurations now present in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved decorative system for shoes. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved decorative system for shoes using an ornamented strand and a fastening method which has the advantages of prior art and still appropriates for a decorated strand of ornamental materials apart from woven fabrications.

In order to attain all the advantages of prior art, and to add further advantages without the disadvantages the invention comprises a sole. The sole is provided in a generally oblong configuration. The sole has a top and a bottom surface. The top surface is smooth. The sole has a bottom surface which may include a heel portion. The diameter of the heel portion is a minority in margin to the sole. The decorative shoe comprises a foot retaining strap. The strap is formed of two sections extending from a central extent attachment and to outer attached ends. The foot-retaining strap is to be attached to said sole. The said outer strap ends are coupled to the sole. A central extent attachment is coupled to the central toe section of the said sole. Top and bottom faces of the retaining strap are provided. A first set of a plurality of fastening faces is provided. Individual fastening faces have a lower flat side and an upper fastener receiver side. One embodiment of such receiver side may be a male snap fastener. The lower flat side is coupled with the top face of the foot retaining strap. The connected plurality of fastener faces extends the upper receiver side. A decorative strand accessory is provided. The decorative strand is made of a string ornamented or decorated between a plurality of fastening faces. Individual fastening faces on the strand have an upper flat side and a lower fastener receiver side. One embodiment of such receiver side may be an adaptable female snap fastener. The said upper flat side of the decorative strand fastener face is covered with a decorative ornament or rivet. The lower fastener receiver side is adapted to releasably couple with the upper fastener receiver side of the first set of fastener faces connected to the foot retaining strap. The decorative band accessory fastener faces, and the fastener faces connected with the foot retaining strap are coextensive in spacing.

It is one object of the present invention to overcome the difficulty of providing a type of shoe that can be easily and simply changed to match the accessories worn by the wearer. These accessories such as a necklace or bracelet may have strings or ornaments such as beads made of a variety of materials apart from woven fabrications. Such materials may include wood, pearls, gemstones, metal, glass, resins or plastics. The object of the present invention would be to allow such common jewelry design materials easy attachment and removal from the retaining strap of the shoe.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a shoe of the aforesaid type, which is simple in construction and contains a minimal plurality of connection points between the ornamented strings and the retaining strap. By using a minimal plurality of fastening faces, a section of ornamental materials to be placed within space on a strand separated from the foot-retaining strap but connected by coextensively spaced fastening faces on both the strand and the foot-retaining strap.

The present invention also allows a single pair of shoes to convert to appear to be many different shoes utilizing varying colors and materials to accomplish this. Further, the sandals would simplify outfit coordination, free up storage space, ease and lessen the expense of packing for travel, allow group customization/branding with appropriate colors (such as for schools or dance teams, allowing one pair of shoes to transition, thus matching different required attire, while substantially decreasing investment, etc). It would allow a bride shoes that could be transitioned easily and therefore utilized for additional occasions after the wedding. Because purchasing a single ornamental upper that effectively converts the decorative sandal into a different style to match a different outfit without the cost of purchasing an entirely different shoe, the wearer can effectively match their shoes to a larger wardrobe without incurring the cost of purchasing multiple pairs of other entire shoe sets.

In addition, because all adult straps fit all related adult shoe sizes, and all children straps fit all related sizes of children shoes, a consumer can simply replace the shoe portion once it has worn out or been grown out of, without incurring the cost of purchasing an entire shoe set in multiple pairs of other footwear because the interchangeable tops will accommodate all sizes of relative replacement shoes. Similarly as the sole of the shoe wears down, the present invention allows the wearer to purchase new shoes comprising of only a sole and a foot retaining strap that will releasably engage with previously purchased ornamental strand uppers without incurring the cost of purchasing multiple complete shoe sets year-after-year.

Another object of the present invention would be to allow individuals to store a single shoe and a plurality of uppers in a much smaller space than would be required for the same number of entire shoe sets.

Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a new and improved decorative sandal that can be used for providing a plurality of interchangeable ornamented strings by connected snaps for the foot retaining straps of sandals. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective of a decorative shoe embodying the present invention. The ornamental strand being shown entirely detached.

FIG. 2 is a top perspective of a decorative shoe embodying the present invention. The ornamental strand being shown entirely attached.

FIG. 3 is a top perspective of a foot retaining strap with coextensively spaced facings with the ornamental strap.

FIG. 4 is a top perspective of an ornamental strap with coextensively spaced facings with the foot retaining strap.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, one embodiment of a decorative shoe with the ornamental strand removed 16 of the present invention is shown. The plurality of fastening faces one at the front 13, and one 14, 15 on either side of the foot retaining strap 12 enables the wearer to remove and attach interchangeable ornamental strands 22, as illustrated in FIG. 2, from the foot retaining strap 12 easily, and with the desirable design function.

The decorative shoe 16 preferably includes a sole 10, a heel 11, a retaining strap 12, and a plurality of fastening faces 13, 14, 15. The sole 10 is attached to the foot retaining strap 12 and is configured to maintain a wearer's foot with the decorative shoe 16.

Referring to FIG. 2 one configurable embodiment of a decorative shoe with the ornamental strand connected 26. The plurality of fastening faces coupled with the ornamental strand 26 on the ends 24, 25 and in a central length 23, are spaced coextensively to the fastening faces illustrated in FIG. 1, 13, 14, 15 coupled with the foot retaining strap 12.

Illustrated in FIG. 3 the foot retaining strap 32 is provided with a plurality of releasably engageable fastening faces 33, 34, 35. One embodiment of these fastening faces may be male snap fastener elements as illustrated in FIG. 3, 33, 34, 35. The fastening faces provided and coupled with the foot retaining strap are spaced coextensively with adapted facings 43, 44, 45 on the ornamental strand 42 illustrated in FIG. 4.

The ornamental strand 42 itself consists of a strip through a number of beads or other decorative elements constructed of wood, pearls, gemstones, metal, glass, resins or plastics. The strand is coextensive in length to the foot retaining strap 32 such that the fastening faces releasably engage easily.

DESCRIPTION OF POSSIBLE EMBODIMENTS

The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent construction insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Although this invention has been disclosed in considerable detail, such description is intended as being illustrative rather than limiting, since the invention may be variously embodied, and the scope of the invention is to be determined as claimed. 

1. (canceled)
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 4. An apparatus for altering footwear, the footwear comprising a foot retaining strap having a first fastening member coupled to a first end of the foot retaining strap and a second fastening member coupled to a second end of the foot retaining strap, wherein a third fastening member is coupled to the foot retaining strap at a position between the first end and the second end, the apparatus comprising: an ornamental member coupleable to the foot retraining strap on the footwear, the ornamental member comprising a strip having a first end and a second end, the strip coupled to a plurality of decorative elements, the plurality of decorative elements comprising at least one element selected from the group consisting of wood elements, pearl elements, gemstone elements, metal elements, glass elements, resin elements, and plastic elements; a fourth fastening member coupled to the ornamental member at the first end of the ornamental member, the fourth fastening member removably engageable with the first fastening member; a fifth fastening member coupled to the ornamental member at the second end of the ornamental member, the fifth fastening member removably engageable with the second fastening member; and a sixth fastening member coupled to the ornamental member at a position substantially between the first end and the second end, the sixth fastening member removably engageable with the third fastening member.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a second ornamental member, the second ornamental member interchangeable with the ornamental member.
 6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the ornamental member is aligned with the foot retaining strap when the ornamental member is coupled to the foot retaining strap.
 7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the plurality of decorative elements comprises a first element of a first type and a second element of a second type, the first and second type of elements comprising an element selected from the group consisting of wood elements, pearl elements, gemstone elements, metal elements, resin elements, and plastic elements.
 8. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the ornamental member is easily removable.
 9. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a footwear having a foot retaining strap, the foot retaining strap having a first fastening member coupled to a first end of the foot retaining strap and a second fastening member coupled to a second end of the foot retaining strap, wherein a third fastening member is coupled to the foot retaining strap at a position between the first end and the second end.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the third fastening member is coupled to the foot retaining strap at a position approximate a midpoint between the first end and the second end of the foot retaining strap.
 11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the fourth fastening member, fifth fastening member, and sixth fastening member are coextensively positioned with respect to the first fastening member, second fastening member, and third fastening member.
 12. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first fastening member, the second fastening member, the third fastening member, the fourth fastening member, the fifth fastening member, and the sixth fastening member each comprise a snap-fit fastening member.
 13. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the fourth fastening member, the fifth fastening member, and the sixth fastening member are each adorned with a decorative ornament.
 14. A system for altering footwear, the system comprising: a footwear comprising a foot retaining strap having a first fastening member coupled to a first end of the foot retaining strap and a second fastening member coupled to a second end of the foot retaining strap, wherein a third fastening member is coupled to the foot retaining strap at a position between the first end and the second end; an ornamental member coupleable to the foot retraining strap on the footwear, the ornamental member comprising a strip having a first end and a second end, the strip coupled to a plurality of decorative elements, the plurality of decorative elements comprising at least one element selected from the group consisting of wood elements, pearl elements, gemstone elements, metal elements, glass elements, resin elements, and plastic elements; a fourth fastening member coupled to the ornamental member at the first end of the ornamental member, the fourth fastening member removably engageable with the first fastening member; a fifth fastening member coupled to the ornamental member at the second end of the ornamental member, the fifth fastening member removably engageable with the second fastening member; and a sixth fastening member coupled to the ornamental member at a position substantially between the first end and the second end, the sixth fastening member removably engageable with the third fastening member.
 15. The system of claim 14, further comprising a second ornamental member, the second ornamental member interchangeable with the ornamental member.
 16. The system of claim 14, wherein the plurality of decorative elements comprises a first element of a first type and a second element of a second type, the first and second type of elements comprising an element selected from the group consisting of wood elements, pearl elements, gemstone elements, metal elements, resin elements, and plastic elements.
 17. The system of claim 14, wherein the third fastening member is coupled to the foot retaining strap at a position approximate a midpoint between the first end and the second end of the foot retaining strap.
 18. The system of claim 14, wherein the fourth fastening member, fifth fastening member, and sixth fastening member are coextensively positioned with respect to the first fastening member, second fastening member, and third fastening member.
 19. The system of claim 14, wherein the first fastening member, the second fastening member, the third fastening member, the fourth fastening member, the fifth fastening member, and the sixth fastening member each comprise a snap-fit fastening member.
 20. An apparatus for altering footwear, the footwear comprising a foot retaining strap having a first fastening member coupled to a first end of the foot retaining strap and a second fastening member coupled to a second end of the foot retaining strap, wherein a third fastening member is coupled to the foot retaining strap at a position between the first end and the second end, the apparatus comprising: an ornamental member coupleable to the foot retraining strap on the footwear, the ornamental member comprising a strip having a first end and a second end, the strip coupled to a plurality of decorative elements, the plurality of decorative elements comprising at least one element selected from the group consisting of wood elements, pearl elements, gemstone elements, metal elements, glass elements, resin elements, and plastic elements; a fourth fastening member coupled to the ornamental member at the first end of the ornamental member, the fourth fastening member removably engageable with the first fastening member; a fifth fastening member coupled to the ornamental member at the second end of the ornamental member, the fifth fastening member removably engageable with the second fastening member; a sixth fastening member coupled to the ornamental member at a position substantially between the first end and the second end, the sixth fastening member removably engageable with the third fastening member; and a second ornamental member interchangeable with the ornamental member.
 21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the plurality of decorative elements comprises a first element of a first type and a second element of a second type, the first and second type of elements comprising an element selected from the group consisting of wood elements, pearl elements, gemstone elements, metal elements, resin elements, and plastic elements.
 22. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising a footwear having a foot retaining strap, the foot retaining strap having a first fastening member coupled to a first end of the foot retaining strap and a second fastening member coupled to a second end of the foot retaining strap, wherein a third fastening member is coupled to the foot retaining strap at a position between the first end and the second end.
 23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the fourth fastening member, fifth fastening member, and sixth fastening member are coextensively positioned with respect to the first fastening member, second fastening member, and third fastening member. 